Jonathan Forte scores twice for Exeter City to make sure its lights out for West Ham United in Checkatrade Trophy

Second goal celebrations for Jonathan Forte of Exeter City during the Checkatrade Trophy match between Exeter City and West Ham U21 at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 25. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

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Exeter City eased to a 2-0 win against West Ham United in the Checkatrade Trophy in a match that was delayed for 27 minutes because of a floodlight failure.

At shortly past 8pm, a section of the floodlights at the stadium went out and the ground was then plunged into darkness moments later when several more went out leaving the referee with no option but to take the players off the field of play.

When they returned, City were far too good for the youthful Hammers with two Jonathan Forte goals enough to see them pick up another fine win in front of their home fans.

It was a much-changed Grecians team that took to the field to the one which begun Saturday’s 3-1 win against Cheltenham Town. In fact, only Pierce Sweeney and Lee Martin were retained from the weekend.

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James Hamon started in goal with Sweeney captaining the side. Dara O’Shea and Will Dean, making his full Grecians debut, were paired at centre back, and Jimmy Oates came in on the left.

Matt Jay and Archie Collins joined forces in midfield, with Martin and Chiedozie Ogbene out wide and up front, Forte was partnered by Tristan Abrahams.

The Grecians made a slow start to the game and struggled to create anything of note. West Ham looked assured in possession and should have gone in front when a smart move ended with a great chance falling to Anthony Scully, but he took too long and Pierce Sweeney got back to make a brilliant block.

A power surge in Exeter knocks out half the stadium lights and the players leave the field of play during the Checkatrade Trophy match between Exeter City and West Ham U21 at St James Park, Exeter, Devon on September 25. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

Gradually, City did grow into the game, but they were soon stopped in their tracks. Not by West Ham, but by a power outage which led to some of the floodlights going out at St James Park.

At first, play continued before several more lights went out, leaving referee Brett Huxtable with no option but to take the players off until the issue was resolved.

Eventually it was with the game restarting at 8.30pm and almost immediately, the Grecians went in front. Jay’s cross from the right was volleyed in superbly by Forte for his fourth goal of the campaign.

West Ham barely had time to settle before four became five for Forte moments later. A short corner routine ended with Martin twisting and turning the West Ham defence inside out before crossing the ball into the box, where Forte guided a superb header over the head of goalkeeper Nathan Trott and inside the far post.

The Hammers should have reduced the arrears almost immediately when a defensive mistake led to a glorious chance for Sean Adarkwa. He had time and space on the edge of the penalty box with just Hamon to beat, but his finish was poor. Credit to Hamon, though, who was off his line quickly to make the save and preserve his clean sheet.

However, it was Hamon’s craziness that almost cost the Grecians early in the second half. A long ball forward should have been routinely dealt with by the City keeper, who instead tried to see it go out of play. But he waited too long for something that was never going to happen, was robbed by Adarkwa and Hamon’s blushes were spared by a wretched pull-back by the striker which went straight to an Exeter player.

Jack Sparkes replaced the impressive Oates, after he picked up an injury and was helped off the pitch, and the Grecians continued to look more likely to score.

Forte wasted two or three good chances for his hat-trick, while Jay sent a looping header onto the top of the crossbar as City continued to play all the football.

West Ham almost pulled a goal back when Sebastian Nebyla’s cross almost caught out Hamon, but the City ‘keeper did brilliantly to palm the ball behind at full stretch.

However, that stop was bettered moments later by West Ham's Nathan Trott, who pulled off a brilliant one-handed save to deny Abrahams a goal after he swivelled and rifled in a shot from ten yards.

As the game wore on, less seemed to happen with the Grecians seeing the game out comfortably. The final whistle went to send them top of the group with five points from their two games so far.